Rwanda signs deal to improve harbour facilities on lake Kivu

The Rwandan government on Tuesday signed an agreement with TradeMark East Africa in which the later will support the construction of harbour facilities at Rubavu and Rusizi ports on Lake Kivu and support the implementation of the industrial park development strategy.

The Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Claver Gatete who signed on behalf of government commended the renewal of agreement with Trademark East Africa (TMEA) as a valued partner in development.

“Trademark East Africa is one of our valued partners. We commend it for its speed of implementation and willingness to listen to and respond to our priorities. TMEA’s new strategy augers well with government plans of raising Rwanda’s profile and increasing our export competitiveness,” Minister Gatete noted after signing.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Finance, the signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with TMEA extends their partnership to 2023, the two have committed to support interventions that will lead to job creation, poverty reduction and increase trade for Rwanda.

The MOU marks the commencement of TMEA’s second phase of interventions which will be implemented between 2018-2023 is valued at US$ 53 Million of which US$ 45 million has been contributed by the Belgium, UK and USA governments through their development agencies and the remaining US$ 8 Million to be mobilised within the next 2 years in partnership with other development partners.

Frank Matsaert, TMEA’s group CEO said, “All these efforts will contribute to creation of additional employment opportunities as investors capitalise in the transport and manufacturing sectors and export growth. Our second phase - will consolidate successes achieved by our partners and innovate around lessons we have learned so far. What we will have is a leaner, more efficient programme that will deliver at least 100,000 jobs for the people of Rwanda in 6 years.”

The organisation will support the implementation of quality standards in key export sectors like honey, tea, coffee, meat and horticulture, automation of trade processes and work in facilitating trade nationally and beyond Rwanda’s borders.

TMEA has previously worked with government supporting the construction of the Kagitumba One Stop Border Post, development of the Rwanda Electronic Single Window and the Rwanda Electronic Cargo Tracking System and investment attraction towards the development of the Kigali Logistics Platform.

A statement on the ministry’s website says that TMEA’s intervention has already contributed to reduction in cost of transporting containers from Mombasa to Kigali from $6,500 in 2011 to $4,800 in 2017 saving the country approximately $7 million. Their various contributions have led to the reduction in costs and time taken for import and export products.